Vermont Public Television to Premiere Film on Appalachian Trail Thru-Hikers

Hikers awaiting the end of mud season and anyone who enjoys an armchair adventure will enjoy “Road Less Traveled,” a new documentary about thru-hikers on the Appalachian Trail. The independent film by Jason Pavelko and Jeff Dougherty will have its broadcast premiere Thursday, April 4, at 8 p.m. on Vermont Public Television.

“Road Less Traveled” follows eight people who set out in 2009 to make an end-to-end uninterrupted journey along the entire Appalachian Trail within the year.

One of the longest continuously marked footpaths in the world, the Appalachian Trail measures roughly 2,180 miles. It goes through 14 states, including Vermont, along the crests and valleys of the Appalachian mountain range from the southern terminus at Springer Mountain, Ga., to the northern terminus at Katahdin, Maine.

The hikers are:

Richard Calkins, a retired investment banker who attempted to thru-hike the trail a couple of years before but was forced to abandon his hike due to injury.

Chris Hennig, a 24-year-old who worked with a traveling concert production. He decides to give up life on the road for life on the trail to gain clarity about what he’d like to do next.

David and Kim Lippy, a retired couple from Florida. They love the outdoors but are unused to high elevation and cold weather, so this hike will be a challenge.

Mike Daniels, a veteran thru-hiker who has completed this trail several times. This time, he plans to take along a friend who will be starting college next year.

Kenny Mellor, a 17-year special forces veteran, now a police officer. Married, with two young kids, his work schedule allowed him to go for his dream of hiking the trail.

Brandon Simcox, a 27-year-old sporting goods manager who recently lost his house to bankruptcy. He decides to leave his job and spend a year on the trail.

Tim Berry, a lifelong friend to Brandon, who wants to go along on the hike. He has spent most of his life camping, hiking and hunting.

Co-producer Jason Pavelko has worked in television in the New York City and Washington, D.C., areas for 16 years. He has been a producer, writer, editor, graphic designer and videographer. He was once asked to come up with a new show idea for a local sports network and pitched the idea of following a group of hikers who wanted to hike the entire Appalachian Trail within one year. The idea was rejected as “too difficult to produce.” Pavelko raised the money himself and founded the company Road Less Traveled Productions to make his idea a reality. He asked former co-worker Jeff Dougherty to act as co-producer.

Of “Road Less Traveled,” he said, “This is an inspirational and entertaining show that will make you want to dust off your hiking poles and hit the mountain trails.”

Co-producer Jeff Dougherty has worked in television for more than 10 years. He has had a variety of jobs, starting as a news photographer in Hartford, then editing and design jobs in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia, Pa. When he heard Pavelko was making a documentary about the Appalachian Trail, he jumped at the chance to be a part of it. The work combined his love of film-making and hiking.

Image courtesy Vermont Fish & Wildlife Department

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